The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-10-01
THE LATE UTE OUTBREAK.


General Crooks History of the Affair, Show
ing Where the Blame Belongs.
Special to the Indianapolis Jorrna..
WASHINGTON, Sept. 30-The Secretary of the
Interior has received through the War Depart
ment a report from General Crook, of the De-
partment Of the Platte, the recent Ute
troubles. These troubles arose, says General
Crook, from attempts made by Colorado officials
to serve warrants on certain Ute Indians for al
legged stealing of horses and for violation Of the
State game laws. The report says that in Gar
field county, the scene Of the disturbances. there
have been living a number of men who obtained
livelihood by gambling with the Indians.
The custom of these men, it is said, is to buy
horses OF the Indians and then regain
possession of the money by playing monte or
some other gambling game. In April last, two
men. who had ATTAINED herd Of horses from
the Indians, either by purchase or by gambling,
stopped at Glenwood Springs, where two of the
horses were claimed having been stolen.
While protesting their innocence OF the theft
the Indians gave gave to the two other
horses in place OF those which they had been
obliged to surrender to the claimants. Later on
the Game Warden of Colorado obtained evil
dence against the Indians for violation of the
game laws. Warrants were duly issued to the
sheriff and to the Game Warden for the arrest
of several of Colorows band The Game War
den, with posse Immediately started for the
Indian camp. where, without any explanation
of their object or mission they seized several of
the bucks. who succeeded in breaking away,
and with the rest of their number
sought cover in the brush. The posse fired
the retreating Indians wounding Big Frank and
two others. The posse retired and united forces
with Sheriff Kendall. Hearing of Indian
camp Coal Creek. the sheriff dispatched
number of his company TO it. The squaws and
children who occupied the camp. on seeing the
whites approach, abandoned it. The posse
burned the tepees and large quantity of buck
skin. From this time until the close of the
hostilities the whites, says the report were al
ways the aegressors, and fired first. On the
24th OF August the whites surprised COorow's
camp and imm ediately opened fire. The Indians
seized their guns and for three hours and half
kept the whites at bay. and covered
tn. retreat Of their .. women IAN, and
numbered fully 80 men-the Indians not more
than twenty fvc men, This attack the whites
the ground that the Indians tricked
to await the arrival of the big white chief" In
this engagement the Indians lost one boy killed
and one buck and one squaw wounded. The
whites lost three men killed and several were
wounded. Up to this time five Indians had died
of their wounds-one buck, one large boy, one
small boy, and two little girls Seven others
were wounded, one perhaps MORALLY. "Chief
Colorew." says General Crook, had desire
whatever to fight, and made of his weapons
in self-defense only. for the protection of the
women and children. and his herds. On the
first intimaton Of trouble re broke camp and
started his herds for the reservation, never stop
ping, except at night"
The report severely criticises the action of the
Colorado authorities. and says that the warrants
could have been served without difficulty had
their service been properly undertaken. The
whites, during the few days of the trouble.
drove off and dispersed herd of about 800
horses and 2. 500 sheep and goats.